In backgammon an expert player of cunning and means will always try to gain a decisive edge on a suspicious gambling mark

for example the jacoby rule provides that edge

it focuses attention on the doubling cube

gammons do not count until after somebody doubles the stakes

for either side

the rule injects a sense of urgency into a suspicious mind

where perhaps no such urgency exists on the backgammon board

injects an anxiety and an urgency to get those stakes raised in this amiable situation before the chance of a big payday evaporates — to win a doubled gammon

any novice gambler either fears to wager it all

or taps incessantly at the dusty backdoor of luck and excitement

panting to enter the den of gamblers and the site of iniquity

a novice still unsure of the fluid business hours at the clubhouse

in gambling as in all disputes

the confusion of one player means profit for the other player

the beaver is another example of a gambling edge

the concept of a beaver is a blatant display of expert arrogance

an affront for sale

it answers the cube question

are you out of your mind with that double?

it rebuts this crazy talk by viewing it as a financial and personal insult

a proverbial slap in the face with a silk glove

a challenge to manhood

thus thinks the expert

if lessons must be given to this young pup

make them worth the while

recompense for valuable time and for craftsmanship earned

plus a generous gratuity for enduring such impositions

the beaver rule lets you — the taker of the cube — escalate the stakes immediately

from one to the usual twice the stake just offered

then instantly onto a flat-tailed four-fold increase of the stake

all for the pique of your troubles

and in addition

as plunder and booty for the insult to your manhood

you keep the cube on your side of the board

owned and awaiting the pleasure of its dispatch

That is a beaver

but …

when the impertinent doubler happens to see the original sin of her ways

this penitent doubler may resign this game now

and just pay the doubled stake forthwith

a mere twice the original amount is acceptable

even a gentleman has his charities

skip forward in time a generation

the annotator

lockdown has its bored amusements

a backgammon study group

sensing the need for a challenge

comes up with this question

Are There Any Beavers From The Bar?

cash game so the jacoby rule applies

after some gnarling and gnawing the candidate positions trickle in

none satisfactory

Welcome Back, Kauder !

1970s sitcom

until the subconscious dredges up a recent kauder position exhumed by an unknown yet enterprising player — correct double to activate gammons and correct beaver to increase equity overall

check with rollouts … waiting … waiting … waiting

White wins 50.1% of the finished games by hook or crook

White wants to increase her razor thin equity by a beaver

yet only 3.6% of white wins are gammons

Black wins a gammon in a hefty 24.0% of the games and wants to get paid for them

Black wins a single game about 25.9% of the time

a strange position with a black checker on the bar and a white beaver in the dam